Mirjam SterkMinister of Long-term Care, Youth and Sport
I’m committed to healthy and caring communities where young and old can participate. Communities where we look out for one another and everyone – with or without a disability – can enjoy sports and exercise. Care must be compassionate and accessible, now and in the future. That’s what I want to work for every day, standing alongside the people who need care, their friends and family, and professional carers.
Long-term care (care for older people, for people with disabilities, housing for older people and mental healthcare under the Long-term Care Act)
Home care nursing
Patient fundholding (personal budget, PGB)
Youth care
Social Support Act (WMO) and informal care
Community shelter services and assisted living
War victims and remembrance of the Second World War
Patient and advocacy organisations
Care and youth care in the Caribbean part of the Netherlands
Labour market (training, tackling violence against health professionals)
Digitalisation, innovation and AI
Sustainable health systems
Good governance, regularity and fraud prevention in the health and care sector
Sport and exercise
23 February 2026
Appointed Minister of Long-term Care, Youth and Sport in the Jetten government
August 2023 – 22 February 2026
Member of Utrecht provincial executive with responsibility for transition of rural areas, growing greenspace and Europe
February 2022 – August 2023
Member of Utrecht provincial executive with responsibility for nature, agriculture, soil and water, sport and governance
January 2020 – February 2022
Organisational development consultant
January 2016 – January 2018
Director, MEE NL (promoting inclusion of people with disabilities)
February 2013 – October 2016
Deputy chair, Public Sector Integrity Board
April 2013 – March 2015
Ambassador, Youth Unemployment Action Plan
January 2013 – January 2015
Producer and presenter, Dutch public broadcaster IKON
May 2002 – September 2012
Member of the House of Representatives for the CDA
2019 – 2020
Organizational Consulting and Change Leadership, Georgetown University, Washington DC
2017
The Challenge of Leadership, Finance and Strategy
June 2024 – 22 February 2026
Member of the advisory board, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL)
January 2022 – 22 February 2026
Member of the supervisory board, public broadcaster KRO-NCRV
June 2020 – August 2023
Deputy chair of the board, Clubhuis Nederland (BuzinezzClub) (wellbeing, education and citizenship programmes)
December 2014 – April 2018
Chair of the supervisory board, Jongeren op Gezond Gewicht (JOGG) (promoting a healthy environment for children and young people)
September 2016 – January 2018
Board member, Dutch Council for Cooperatives (NCR)
April 2016 – January 2018
Chair, Straatnieuws Utrecht (street newspaper)
April 2013 – January 2018
Member of the supervisory board, Utrecht Regional Ambulance Service (RAVU)
2012 – January 2018
Member of the supervisory board, Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht
2009 – September 2016
Chair of the quality assurance committee, supervisory board, InteraktContour (care organisation for people with brain injuries)
March 2013 – 2015
Chair of the advisory board, Dutch Debt Counselling Association (NVVK)
2008 – 2013
Member of the supervisory board, Catholic Schools Foundation Utrecht (KSU)
